musical film
DESCRIPTION
Musical Film. A celebration of sound and escape. definition. Interweaves vocal and dance performances into the narrative of a film. Songs can either be used to further the story or simply enhance the experience of the audience. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
MUSICAL FILM
A celebration of sound and escape
DEFINITION
Interweaves vocal and dance performances into the narrative of a film.
Songs can either be used to further the story or simply enhance the experience of the audience.
Primarily an American genre, Japanese, Italian, British, and German film have added to the genre.
Bollywood has resulted in a unique, specific offshoot of the genre.
THEATRICAL ELEMENTS
Big, colorful, over the top settings.
Scenery can convey a shift from reality to something dreamlike.
Costuming is lavish.
Characters express feelings and thoughts through song and dance rather than relying on dialogue and body language.
CINEMATIC ELEMENTS
Long shots – allow the audience to view the dancers in their entirety
Tracking shots – camera follows the dancers as they move across a set
Extreme long shots – accommodate grand sets
Bird’s-eye or crane – highlight complicated choreography
HISTORY
1930’s – extravagantly imaginative, elaborately staged dance sequences, overused plots (Busby Berkley)
Mid-1930’s – focus shifts to singing/dancing teams like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers (Top Hat)
Late 1930’s-1940’s – move towards better unification of plot and music (The Wizard of Oz, Singin’ in the Rain)
HISTORY
Mid-1950’s-’60s – demand declining but screen adaptations of Broadways musicals successful (Oklahoma!, The King and I)
Contemporary currents: subtlety (Les Parapluies de Cherbourg); exploitation (Elvis films); experimentation (Beatles; The Who’s Tommy)
Period of decline followed in late ’60s and ‘70s.
Current period of resurgence
SUB-GENRES
Broadway musical: already successful stage production brought into film; built in anticipation and audience (Chicago, My Fair Lady)
Animated musical: incorporate large musical numbers into the narrative; family appeal; battle of good over evil with likable, memorable characters (Beauty and the Beast)
Family musical: simple storyline with elaborate dance and musical numbers; appeal to wide age range (The Sound of Music, High School Musical)
Western: Annie Get Your Gun
Mystery: Edwin Drood
War: South Pacific, Hair
Science Fiction: Little Shop of Horrors
Horror: Sweeney Todd
MUSICALS EVERYWHERE
Action/Adventure: The Great Race
Fantasy: Mary Poppins
Documentary: This is It
Mockumentary: This is Spinal Tap
Biography: Musical Biography of Quincy Jones